I think I could spend an awful long time at Borough Market. I’ve always promised myself that one day I will take the day off work and have breakfast, lunch and dinner there – with a few drinks at The Market Porter pub in between. I’m struggling to think of a better way to spend the day. In this instance however, I was just spending a well-deserved lunch break on Friday.

I’m lucky enough to work near Borough Market, so have eaten there plenty of times. And with so much great food there, it could almost fill a blog all on its own – so I’m sure there will be many more entries in the future. But I thought the first post should also be a first for me. Something that I’ve never had there before.

It almost surprises me to say that the first goes to Applebee’s Fish Shop and Cafe. It’s a stall that sits out the front of the cafe and sells freshly made wraps. As you enter the market the smell fills the air and tempts you to join the queue. So that’s exactly what I did.

The nice thing about standing in the queue is that they smell so good. And the nearer you get to the front, the better and stronger the smell gets. I also really enjoyed watching the fresh fish and prawns being cooked to order. It was making me feel so hungry that I almost ordered two. And I wish I did. Not that one wasn’t enough.

I went for a Cajun Fish and Prawn Wrap. But you could also have Garlic Prawn only. Both with salad, creme fraiche and sweet chili sauce wrapped in a flour tortilla. The wrap itself was perfect. What I loved was the fact that each bite gave you something different.

The spices on the fish were just enough to give some interesting flavour without overpowering the fish itself. And the prawns were big, juicy and perfectly cooked. It was really satisfying to eat. And put a big smile on my face as it feels as fresh and healthy as it no doubt is. I don’t know why it took me so long to try one. But I know I won’t be leaving it too long for the next one.

Streetfood #6
Applebee’s
Cajun Fish and Prawn Wrap
£5

I very rarely venture out East. However, I think it’ll be something I do a lot more after my first visit to Brick Lane to try out some street food. And with the amount of street food available, I could probably go once a week and still not have the same thing twice in a year.

It was a beautiful sunny day and it seemed everyone had the same idea I had. The streets were full of people strolling around the streets looking for some great food to eat. And we were all spoiled for choice. There was literally every type of food available from all four corners of the globe. And I have it on good recommendation that it’s pretty authentic too.

After wandering around the various stalls for a couple of hours, I couldn’t help but indulge in something I’ve been wanting to try for a while. A hotdog from Big Apple Hot Dogs. I felt slightly guilty that with all the World’s cuisine on show I chose a hotdog. However, I convinced myself this was only a starter and ordered The Big Dog – served simply with onions and mustard.

One bite in and I knew my choice was a good one. The hotdog had a nice coarse texture – not like those processed franks that you find in most places. This was real meat. There was a lovely crunch with every bite of the skin. And then the flavour hits. Really flavoursome meat with a perfectly balanced smokey flavour. I didn’t want the hotdog to end. It was simply the best I’ve ever had.

Still high after my sausage fix, I wandered around the market again until I was ready for another pork hit. This time I chose the authentic taste of Cuba with some roast pork with plantain, Congri rice and salad topped off with some mango sauce from El Ranchon del Guajiro. What a disappointment.

After queuing for a little while I saw people take away plates of lovely pork. I guess I was a little unlucky when it came to my turn. The pork itself was an end piece, which I agreed to have as sometimes the first cut of roast meat can be the best. This, however, wasn’t the case. The burnt pork took away any flavour that the pork had. The plantain were also a little burnt too. It felt as if I was popping a mouthful of coal into my mouth every third bite. Sadly this couldn’t be rescued by the salad and mango sauce – which I was hoping would have a little chilli kick or zing to refresh my tongue. It didn’t.

Such a shame as I now felt that of all the things I could have picked – I chose this. But to be fair, I’m not sure I had the same experience as everyone else. I didn’t let this put a dampener on what was the best place in London, so far, to experience some of the World’s best street food.

Streetfood #4
Big Apple Hotdogs
The Big Dog
£4

Streetfood #5
El Ranchon del Guajiro
Roast Pork with plantain, Congri rice, salad and mango salsa
£5

A quick local eat was the order of the day today. This time at the North End Road market in Fulham. The market itself has really improved over the last year. There’s always been a great selection of grocery stalls there, but now the clothes stalls are making way for food stalls. Which can only be a good thing, right?

First up on my ‘must try list’ was Fresh Falafel Lovers selling ‘Original Palestinian Falafels’. They have a lot to live up to with my favourite ever Falafel in London being the one at the top of Shepherd’s Bush Market (which is on the list to review later). So how did this compare?

Well, while I waited for my falafel to be prepared – I was offered a fresh falafel to try. Which, again, was a great thing to do as it also made the person I was with want one too. Then it was a case of asking for ‘everything’ in the wrapped falafel.

The first thing I noticed was the crunch of the falafel itself. This came from using sesame seeds on the outside. This is the first time I’d had this on a falafel and it worked brilliantly. You got a lovely crunch from the falafel and salad, followed by the soft wrap and then the heat from the chilli sauce (which was a little too much and took away some of the falafel flavour).

Overall, a really nice brunch feast at the side of the street. It didn’t quite topple may favourite – however it certainly turned me into a falafel lover and I’m pleased it’s on my doorstep.

Streetfood #3
Fresh Falafel Lovers
Freshly made falafel wrap
£3 medium £4 large

Another week and another local farmer’s market. This time I visited the Partridges Food Market on Duke of York Square in Chelsea.

I actually had a quick look around here last week after my trip to South Ken. It’s a great little market with some amazing food including freshly made sushi, oysters, pancakes, gourmet popcorn and cupcakes. I was almost gutted that I’d already eaten.

However, this week I was up bright and breezy with a rumbling stomach and got to the market at 10am (opening time). All the way there I had a craving for some kind of curry or slow-cooked beef with rice. Unfortunately most stalls were still setting up. Clearly I was too bright and breezy for most people. But that brings me on to LESSON NUMBER 4 – the minute you open, so do customers mouths – make sure you have something to feed them.

A couple of laps around the market, hoping that someone would fulfill my craving, I spied a stall ready to serve me – Goldsmith’s Salt Beef Bar. I joined the queue and reset my craving to a salt beef poppyseed bagel with mustard and gherkins. And it didn’t disappoint.

The salt beef was freshly carved and generously filled the bagel. There was plenty of it and it wasn’t too salty. The crunch of the gherkins didn’t over power the bagel and the mustard was just enough to provide a little heat without taking away the flavour of the beef.

All in all a great breakfast. Even if it wasn’t what I initially wanted, I stumbled across a pretty good hangover cure. I’d definitely go back for another. Although I’d ask for it hot next time.

Streetfood #2
Goldsmith’s Salt Beef Bar
Poppyseed salt beef bagel with gherkins and mustard
£5

And so the journey begins. Not a million miles away. In fact, just down the road in South Kensington.

Every Saturday there’s a small farmers market tucked away down Bute Street. A tiny one-way street just by The Zetland Arms pub (once run by Charlie Chaplin’s brother). While the pub is packed with people eager to watch the rugby, I begin my search for the best of UK streetfood.

There’s about 15 stalls in all. Selling everything from baked cheesecakes and chutneys to free-range chickens and huge lobsters.

After a brief walk up and down, I decided to go for something pretty simple. A sausage roll. Well, two free-range sausages in a bap – finished with fried onions and mustard – courtesy of The Parsons Nose.

Waiting in the queue, the smells were getting stronger as I patiently waited for my turn. The old lady in front of me ordered one without the bap. Clearly never being asked this before, the guy behind the stall didn’t really know what to do next. His assistant came to the rescue with a plastic bag (interesting choice). LESSON NUMBER ONE – be prepared for the unexpected – even if you’re selling the simplest thing in the world – not everyone will want it that way.

When it was my turn, I was slightly disappointed that the guy behind the stall cut the sausages in half. Lengthways. Presumably to get them to fill the rather large, white, floury bap. I can see why he did it, but I prefer to bite into the skin of a sausage and let the pork juices burst in my mouth. Oh well. He did redeem himself shortly after by throwing in an extra sausage on top.

Standing outside the pub, I tucked in to the sausage bap. Personally I would have cooked them a little longer to get that lovely crunch on the outside. But the sausages tasted great. Meaty, juicy, with a hint of herbs and also a peppery bite. The sweet soft onions had also soaked into the bap – which, despite its size, didn’t feel like too much bread.

I took the opportunity to observe the queues and also how people behaved at the market. Many people were also being drawn to the sausage stall. Two young lads next to me actually went back for seconds.

And here was LESSON NUMBER TWO – if people can smell it, you will sell it. The stall was quite near the market entrance and it was the smell of the sausages cooking that drew people in. Perfect. The stall at the other end of the market had loads of great casseroles and stews covered up and no queue. They could learn a trick here. I also passed another stall on my way to the market where people were cooking something that looked like a thin pasty. However, as you couldn’t smell it – it really didn’t make you want to try it.

And that leads me on to LESSON NUMBER THREE – make sure you have some samples for people. A stall that had several samples of their organic chocolate cakes on show was surrounded by a passing group of girls. Which, I’m sure, wouldn’t have bothered if they couldn’t have tried a mouthful or two.

So, a very successful trip and a fair few lessons learned already. Looking forward to lesson number four and streetfood number two…

Streetfood #1
The Parsons Nose
Sausage bap with 2 free-range sausages and onions
£3.50